MAKATEA TREASURE ISLAND
Product Description:
Now you can have your cake and eat it too with these spectacular sweet potatoes. A first for plant breeding, The Treasure Island series plants are new introductions that have won awards and the hearts of gardeners with their fabulous, edible foliage and gourmet-quality tuber production. Sweet potato vine has been a go-to trailing foliage staple in mixed plantings, hanging baskets and containers. The colorful leaves are an outstanding counterpoint to flowering plants, but Treasure Island offers the added bonus of delicious, healthy tuber harvest at the end of the season. Enjoy the beautiful foliage all summer long, and instead of just tossing the spent plants when the weather cools, you’ll have a harvest of delectable sweet potatoes.
Makatea plants ship in May. The plants are in 3 ½ inch containers. Available only within the contiguous US. Sorry, not available to CA.
| Soil Temp for Transp | 65°F |
| Plant Spacing | 16-18" |
| Row Spacing | 12-24" |
| Fertilizer Needs | Medium |
Ipomoea batatas Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A. Although sweet potatoes and yams look alike, the yam is from a subtropical shrub that is native to Africa, while the sweet potato is from the American morning glory family.
Days to maturity are calculated from date of planting.
Culture
• Sweet potatoes should be planted in the garden when the weather has stabilized in late spring and nighttime temperatures are above 60°F
• The use of low tunnels or cold frames is highly recommended in cooler climates and northern states with shorter seasons
• Rototill or fork in a 2 inch thick layer of compost and bone meal
• Create 6-8 inch high raised beds
• Soil should be adequately draining; water thoroughly every 7-10 days
• Sweet potatoes require up to 1 inch of water per week throughout the season
Transplanting
• Plant slips deeply into raised beds, up to top leaves
• Live plants should be planted even with the soil
• Keep evenly moist until you see new growth
• If the soil temperature is less than 65°F, plant slips in 3-4 inch pots and keep them in a warm location until you can plant outside
Insects & Diseases
• Common insects: Usually pest free
• Common diseases: Scurf
• Disease prevention: Remove all plant debris after harvest and practice good crop rotation
Harvest & Storage
• Harvest prior to first frost after the weather cools in the fall
• To cure, brush off the soil and place the sweet potatoes in a warm, dry area (80-85°F and 80-90% relative humidity) for 7-14 days
• After curing, handle carefully and store them at 50-60°F